124 MACEOPODID-S;. upper surface passing down their centres to the tip of the middle (fourth) toe, and leaving the sides of the metatarsus and the whole of the haUux, second, third, and fifth digits naked. Soles naked, coarsely granulated, with five prominent transversely-striated pads, the postero-external about 12 miUim. long; pads at tips of toes also striated. TaU hairy for its b^sal inch, then becoming abruptly naked and scaly, a few minute hairs only growing between the scales ; its colour black above, paler below. Shull and teeth as described above. Greatest breadth of nasals going about 3^ times in their length. P.* above and below with five or six distinct oblique grooves outside and inside. Dimensions. ^- a (in spirit). millim. Head and body 250 TaU 162 Hind foot 61 Ear 27 , SkuU, see next page. Hab. Queensland. Type in the Sydney Museum. The foUowing account of the habits of this species is extracted from Mr. Pierson Ramsay's original description (Z. c.) -.—" I first met with this highly interesting and anomalous marsupial while on a visit to the Herbert River in January 1874, where it inhabits the dense and damp portions of the scrubs which fringe the rivers and clothe the sides of the coast-range in that district. The animal is by no means rare, yet from its retiring habits and the dense nature of the parts frequented by it, it is at aU times difficult to obtain. Its habits are chiefly diurnal, and its actions when not disturbed by no means ungraceful; it progresses in much the same manner as the Kangaroo-rats (Hypsiprymnus), to which it is closely allied, but procures its food by turning over the debris in the scrubs in search of insecte, worms, and tuberous roote, frequently eating the palm- berries (Ptychosperma alexandrae), which it holds in its fore paws after the manner of tbe phalangers, sitting up on its haunches, or sometimes digging like the bandicoots. Seldom more than one or two are found together, unless accompanied by the young. In March 1874 I obtained from Mr. K. Broadbent a female with two young in the pouch, very smaU, and resembling young bandicoots. During the same month a halfgrown young one was shot in com¬ pany with the adult male and female. They e-ridently breed during the rainy season, which lasts from February to May." a. Ad. al., d • Queensland. Sir R. Owen [P.], , J Ad. sks. I , o Queensland. Trustees of the Sydney *'''• 1 Skulls. \°2- Museum [P.]. (Co-types of Pleopus nudicaudatus, Owen.)